As his fellow artistes mourn his death, a beloved circus clown witnesses his own funeral. |
A Clown's Funeral a short film By Luis Rivera INT. A CIRCUS RING The Roustabout and the Tramp Clown are seen, mourning. The Strongman and the Juggler enter. JUGGLER Alegria! TRAMP CLOWN This is no time for alegria. A tragedy has occured. JUGGLER What happened? TRAMP CLOWN Fischietto is dead. JUGGLER Ah! The poor unfortunate soul. All cry in a exaggerated manner. The Ringmaster enters. RINGMASTER What brings you lot here? TRAMP CLOWN Mister Ringmaster! RINGMASTER Don't you know that a tragic moment has happened? Fischietto is dead! At least pay some respect to the grieving party. The group head for a bed where the Dead Clown. RINGMASTER Here lies the corpse. TRAMP CLOWN Ah! He looks wonderful. DEAD CLOWN (rises) Hello, my dear friends. I bid you welcome to my funeral. TRAMP CLOWN Fischietto?! You are alive! DEAD CLOWN How can I be alive? It's my funeral. TRAMP CLOWN How can you be dead when you're walking and talking? DEAD CLOWN Show some respect. It's my funeral. RINGMASTER (presents scroll) Here is the will. DEAD CLOWN (reads scroll) I, Fischietto Jackson, sound mind and body, hereby give my harmonica, my costume, my props and my money to all my friends. Divide them among you. The White Clown enters. WHITE CLOWN Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the dearly departed in memoriam. Being his partner, I did all that I could to teach him some manners. I slap him across the face to get my point across. He made civilians laugh and made his own family cry. While I played classical music on my violin, he interrupted the proceedings by playing popular song on his harmonica. No matter what I do to discipline him, he did the same spiel that he always did. If nothing else, I hereby rest my case. The Disk-jockey plays a dirge. DEAD CLOWN Maestro! Play something lively for a change. The Disk-jockey plays an upbeat song. RINGMASTER Silencio! Silencio! This is supposed to be a funeral! The Disk-jockey resumes the dirge. |